Lung Biopsy

A lung biopsy is usually performed when a physician notices clinical symptoms or findings on a chest x-ray that are suspicious for lung cancer. A biopsy refers to sampling tissue to determine if there is cancer. This is generally done by taking a small sample of tissue and sending it to a pathologist to look at under a microscope. The pathologist will note if there is any evidence of cancer. If a biopsy is positive, it becomes necessary to "stage" the cancer. Staging cancer provides information on how far the cancer has spread. This information is useful in guiding treatment for the cancer as well as prognosis. Biopsy and staging are often performed with bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy.

Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is often used to perform a lung biopsy. In a bronchoscopy, a flexible camera is placed through the mouth and down the airway into the bronchial tree. This procedure is usually done under anesthesia. The physician can sample the lung tissue around the airway with a small tool at the end of the bronchoscope. This tissue can then be sent to a pathologist, who will look at the tissue under a microscope to see if it has characteristics of cancer.

Mediastinoscopy
In mediastinoscopy, a small incision is made in the patients' chest, and a surgeon will place an endoscope through the incision. The endoscope allows the surgeon to see the lymph nodes in the mediastinal cavity. The surgeon can then take biopsies of the tissues to stage the spread of lung cancer.